Barack Obama receives Solyndra stock in AEA Award

WASHINGTON D.C. — Now in the twelfth and final day of the 2011 Lump of Coal Award announcements, the American Energy Alliance has concluded this year’s tribute to the politicians, policymakers, and others who have proven the worst enemies of affordable American energy. Today’s recipient is the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama.

In a late decision on Thursday evening, the “Lump of Coal” Awards Committee determined that the president’s unique hostilities to conventional energy sources required a modification of the award. Rather than present President Obama with a lump of coal — a most valuable commodity — AEA has replaced the final award this year with a share of Solyndra stock. To see a video entitled “The Story of Solyndra & the Obama Administration,” click below:

“President Obama didn’t deserve a lump of coal this year, quite honestly,” noted AEA President Tom Pyle in the award announcement. “For energy policies that are worthless, the Committee determined that the President deserved something equally worthless.

“Before taking office, President Obama promised that energy prices would necessarily skyrocket during his administration, and so they have. Americans are now paying more for gasoline during Christmas than at any time in history. The new EPA regulations on coal-fired power plants are going to cost consumers more than $11 billion over the next 5 years. And then there are costs that cannot be fully measured.

“The cost of delaying final authorization of the Keystone XL pipeline is more than $70 million every day, yet the president won’t make a decision. The cost of the president’s moratorium on offshore drilling was more than $2 billion in the first six months. The bureaucratic delays in permitting, and the failure to open federal lands for exploration are costing Americans untold billions more.

“The current boom in oil and natural gas production — and the tens of thousands of jobs associated with it — is happening despite the president’s green fetish. In North Dakota, for instance, the federal government controls only a tiny fraction of the available acreage. It’s no wonder that the Peace Garden State has the lowest unemployment in the country.

“The president and his energy team backed Solyndra, assuring Americans that $535 million in taxpayer guarantees for the company would create jobs and strengthen our energy future. Today, Solyndra is bankrupt and 1,100 workers are unemployed. More than anything, Solyndra represents the failed energy policies of this Administration. We felt it was only appropriate to give him a share of its worthless stock to commemorate the effects that his administration is having on the country, the economy, and our energy future.”